Unity
Introduction
Paul has been guided to write a letter to the Corinthian church
If you had to write a letter to the Corinthians, what would you write about?
There were many problems:
Serious doctrinal error
Prostitution
Disunity
Scandalous sin
Drunkenness
An abuse of spiritual gifts
Failure to consider the conscience of a weaker member
One member taking another to court
What do you think was the most important issue?
Paul deals with disunity first
Why?
If you don’t deal with this – how can you deal with other issues, exercise church discipline or bring doctrinal clarity
How do you deal with this?
Last week we considered v1-9
He reminds them that they are the church of God and he thanks God for them
He affirms them
He loves them
He desires for their good
v10 – he is now pleading with them out of love
1 Cor 10:17 – we are one
We are united
In matters of conscience we have liberty
At communion we must make sure we are united
Paul is not Partisan
He does not show favour to any group in the church
He pleads not on the basis of his apostleship but the name of the Lord Jesus Christ – v10
Members of Chloe’s household have written to Paul (v11) – but he takes no side on the issue
He simply reports there must be no divisions
Everyone needs to come together
The issue affects the whole church – v12
There seemed to be different divisions – some following Paul, Apollos, Cephas, Christ (an elite group with a wrong spiritual view)
It can seem impossible – like a smashed bauble
God can overrule
Why is unity important?
It is a very poor witness to the world when Christians bicker and fall out
Details come out
A church cannot move forward when there is disunity
There is no blessing
The Holy Spirit is grieved
New Christians are confused
There is a perfect unity in the Trinity and we are to express this / we are united with Christ
We are not to dishonour the name of God
How important is unity?
Is there a danger on focusing on this too much?
Quote from CH Spurgeon
Paul does not harp on about disunity throughout the letter
v18 – he speaks about Jesus Christ
Our eyes are taken off ourselves to Christ
Reading John 17:11, 21-23
It was upon Jesus’ heart for His people to be one
It is raised in every epistle
Romans 15:5-6, 16:17
2 Corinthians 2:8, 11 – reaffirm your brother
2 Corinthians 13:11
Galatians 5:14-15
Ephesians 4:1-3
It should be constantly taught in the church
We must not teach just this but the whole gamut of Scripture
How are we to maintain/restore Unity?
There must be honesty/openness
Maybe only a few know
It is better that things come out into the open (if they cannot/should not be dealt with individually)
What was it wrong for the household of Chloe to write to Paul?
No – he was an apostle and they needed help
Paul’s reply – is bring things out in the open
Some cultures are too open and others too closed
Pointing people to Christ
We must avoid human ego/cliques
Paul highlights this issue – v12
People attach themselves to men rather than Christ
Paul was horrified and probably Apollos and Cephas
He asks a series of questions to speak to their conscience
Paul reminds them they were not baptised in the name of a man
He points them to Jesus Christ
Quote from AW Tozer
Paul had not baptised any (nor did Jesus)
He was sent to preach and not baptise
Baptism is secondary to the gospel
Paul directs the focus from me to Christ
Do we speak too much of men?
Example
We can thank God for these men – but remember that Christ is above all
Quote from Martin Luther, CH Spurgeon
Humble in approach
Phil 2:2-4
There must be no rivalry or pride – we are to esteem others better than ourselves
1 Cor 12
Give special honour to the weak
Phil 2:7
Christians come different background and differ in opinion
Rom 8, 1 Cor 14
We might have different areas of conscience
We can speak freely
Overall we do things for the edification of the body
Quote from Meldenius “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity”
Closing Remarks